Key-fastener.



No. 766,249. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. E. F. HENDERSON.

KEY FASTENER.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 22, 1904,

No MODEL.

Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

EDYIN F. HENDERSON, OF VEST ALLIS, lVlSC/ONSIN.

KEY-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 766,249, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed January 22, 1904. Serial No. 190,245. (No model.)

To all when@ it I'rlfrtg/ concern,l

Be it known that I, EDWIN F. HENDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVest Allis, in the county of I\'Iilwaukee and State of il'lisconsin, have invented a new and use ful Key-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in key-fasteners.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of key-'fasteners and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and eiiicient device of great strength and durability designed `for use on mortise-locks and capable of effectually preventing an interiorly-arrang'ed key from being' surreptitiously turned from the exterior with forceps or other means.

` A fm'ther object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which after the key has been placed in a lock and the engaging portion or lugl turned up or away from the keyhole will substantially lill the latter and prevent a pick or other instrument from being introduced into the lock.

The invention has also for its object to provide a device of this character adapted to eng'age the inner escutcheon-plate and capable of adjustment to suit the space between a lock and such plate.

Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construetion within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing' any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical seetional view of a portion of a door having a mortise lock and provided with a key-fastener constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the keyfastener. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a substantially oblong body portion consisting' of a metal block or piece adapted to bc arranged in the keyhole of a lock 2 after the engaging portion of a key 3 has been turned up or away from the keyhole, as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, whereby the key is prevented Vfrom being surrepti tiously turned Vfrom the exterior by means of forceps or the like. The block or piece also substantially fills the keyhole, and it effectually prevents a pick or other tool from being introduced into the lock. The ends of the block or body project beyond the sides of the lock, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

the inner end is preferably provided with projecting flanges Llc, forming a head for engaging the outer face of the lock to limit the movement of the key-fastener to prevent the same from being' pulled through the keyhole from the exterior. The upper edge 5 of the body portion of the fastener is preferably curved to form oppostely-tapered portions, as shown in l and 3.

The body portion of the key-fastener is held in the lock by means of a pivoted fastening device or key 6, extending' 'from the inner end of the body portion and having a threaded stem or shank 7 and provided with a head. The threaded shank or stem extends into a threaded bore or opening 8 of the body portion of the fastening device, and the key extends longitudinally thereof from the inner end of the same. The rotary fastening' device is provided between the head and the shank, preferably at opposite sides, with lugs 9, adapted to engage the inner face of the inner escutcheon-plate l0; but a single lug may be employed, as will be readily understood. The lugs are passed-through the keyhole 0f the inner escutcheon-plate in an upright position, and the rotary fastener or key is then turned to bring the lugs into a horizontal position, as indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, whereby the body portion of the key-fastener will be firmly held in the lock. The

lug's 9, which eng'age the inner face of the inner escutclIeon-plate l0 of the door, are

IOO

spaced from the head 6 of the rotary fastening device to form opposite notches, which receive the said inner escutoheon-plate l0. This will prevent the body portion from being forced inward or drawn outward. The threaded shank forms an adjustable connection and enables the rotary fastening device or key to be adjusted to suit the distance between the lock 2 and the inner escutoheonplate l0.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A key-fastener, comprising a body portionadapted to fit in the keyhole of a look to prevent the key from turning, and locking means for retaining the body portion within the keyhole, said locking means being located wholly exteriorly of the lock, and comprising a fastening device extending fromthe inner end of the body portion and providedl beyond the same with means for directly engaging a fixed portion of the door, substantially as described.

2. A key-fastener, comprising a body portion adapted to lit in the keyhole of a lock and provided at its inner end with a shoulder for engaging the casing of the lookat the inner keyhole thereof v-to prevent the body portion from-being drawn outward through the lock, and a fastening device extending from the inner end of the body portion and provided be-j vond the same with means for directly engaging the fixed portion of a door, whereby the body portion is retained in the keyhole, substantially as described.

3. A key-fastener, comprising a body portion adapted to lit in the keyhole of a lock to prevent the key from turning, and a rotary fastening device extending from the inner end of the body portion and provided beyond the same with a notch arranged to receive the inner escutcheon-plate or other fixed portion, whereby the body portion is retained in the keyhole of the lock, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflxed my signature in Vthe presence of two witnesses.

EDVIN F..HENDERSON.

Witnesses: v

W. P. TRUESDELL, Jos. E. MEYER. 

